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Today our church had the last of a series of messages about heaven and eternity. There were sufficient scriptural passages referred to make the basic point of the visual splendors of the great city; as well as all the ways we will find fulfillment there.
With reflection; however it would seem to me that we must be careful not to focus on the creation above the Creator. Lucifer; after all was a large part of the music worship and was clothed in splendor (see Isaiah 14; Ezekiel 28). He would have seen all the ornate opulance of heaven itself along with the heavenly city in whatever state it was in prior to the time He had completed mansions for His people. Whether it existed for all eternity itself or was created at the dawn of time; we need to look at the Triune God Himself as being unique in character as well as superior to His created beings. Even the Word of God has patterns and inherent life in it's words which are suitable to cut to the marrow of soul and spirit ( Heb. 4:12).
We need to stop to reflect on the true nature of heavenly treasure; it is first and foremost meant to honor God; as well as being a place for His saints to dwell in; where there is nothing unclean entering into it and it is perfectly Holy. ( Rev. 21:27). It should be seen in the dirt villages and the prisons where humble servants who are saints of the Most High are serving the Lord by proclaiming the Good News. There; we can look into the eyes of believers and see Christ who through obedient service are gaining eternal blessings in treasures that cannot fade away ( Luke 12:33-34). Here; we see people who are sold out to Christ and have no desire to grasp onto things of this world. It is a process for some of us; but we must all produce good fruit and overcome the temptations of this life and ensnarement of the love of money; which only can occur when sealed with the Holy Spirit and living out what lives in our hearts. ( Eph. 1:13-14; Phil 2:12-13).
I was just thinking yesterday about this as my husband and I were driving on such a sunny fall day. Considering the beauty of the natural environment, I thought that since God created such beauty and enjoyment on this earth in this life, how much greater will be the beauty and enjoyment of our heavenly life! I don't think we will ever grow tired or bored of what we will possess in our heavenly life. Just the eternal infinite perfection of God in all of His ways will be captivating to us for all eternity.
I love what John the Baptist said of Jesus, "He must increase and I must decrease." ( John 3:30). Our sanctification will bring this same attitude in us. Although God can never increase in any aspect of His Being, but our view and esteem for him will increasing grow in glory and our esteem for ourselves will lessen as we understand more fully how God deserves all the honor, glory, and praise, not us. It helps us understand why in John's vision in Revelation that the angels and elders would fall before the throne of God crying "Holy, Holy, Holy" continually. We will have that same esteem for Him. All to Jesus, holding nothing back for ourselves, knowing we have everything in Him anyway and will never lack for any good thing. How wonderful that will be.
I appreciate your comments. Haven't heard anything for probably 2 months on any postings on the site.
You probably don't need these admonitions. That is a hard saying; how God is impartial. He will bless those who bless Him; and curse those who curse Him. It seems you have a great desire for the Word; and having a husband in the faith; hopefully you are growing as well in the role God has given you in this life. It is the fact that those who are hundredfold that have the greatest rewards is simply God's character being reflected; as well as gaining more "interest" as it were because of heavenly rewards. He who sows in tears will reap in joy. ( Psalm 126:5-6). It goes against the flesh to invest time and energy and finances in ministry for the Lord but we are told that we MUST believe that God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him ( Heb. 11:6). These crowns of course extend to those who patiently hope and wait for His coming; those in leadership over the church (held to a higher standard); a special one for martyrs; and several other designations. We may cast our crowns at His feet but as adopted children we have eternal promises and positions. It is hard to say in eternity as compared to the Millennium the differences in rulership; etc. Obviously it is better to be a doorkeeper in the house of God than to be lost and cast out.
It is not taught today how some will make it through the Bema suffering loss getting in as through the fire ( 1 Cor. 3:15). Revelation 3:11 is not taught much either. One of my frequent comments on that is that if I fail I'd better be honored to see someone else exalted due to my lack of service. God will use anyone as a method of spreading salt and light; some sowing others reaping the benefits.
Sad truth today is that there are few who can discern those who are shining as the stars among the masses of confessing Christians ( Daniel 12:3 associated with leading many to righteousness).
Richard I have been reading your posts for quite a while now and they need no response because they are perfect ! Don't despair that you don't get many replies .
Hmmm I was not aware that you had not had any responses to your posts for some time. That surprises me. I always read what you write. I like how you take a book and go right through it chapter upon chapter. I am trying to do that, too. But am very slow at it as I am only in Exodus. But that pace is what I do now. I do enjoy conversing with people on here. It helps me stay focused on what is really important, even in Christian conversations. I am learning quite a bit on here and your posts are part of this learning and growing in me. Thank you. Keep up the good work, Richard. God knows what He will do with your obedience even if you do not yet see the fruit. This idea makes me smile as I think that we do not need to depend on instant or quick results to know whether what we do from the leading of the Holy Spirit is worthwhile or not. God uses us and many times does not have anything bounce back to us for some time. But we should be satisfied that we have done what He has led us to do and leave it at that. I try to be content in whatever situation I find myself in, trusting God to bring about good from it for others and for myself as well.
I am blessed to be married to a man who believes, too. Our whole relationship from the beginning of our first date up to now (45 years later) have been as believers. He is fairly quiet and reserved. As with our 3 sons, he is introverted and I am the lone extrovert in our family though I come from a whole, big family of extroverts, mostly. Too many bossy sister, that is for sure. haha. I have learned a lot living with introverts and that has led me to be more sensitive to their needs as far as interactively and emotionally. I have needed to set aside my preferences and bents for their needs more often than not. That is a good thing. It is part of dying daily to self, I believe. I certainly am not one to insist on my one way nor to need to run the show. So, God is at work in our family. Praise to Him.
Today our church had the last of a series of messages about heaven and eternity. There were sufficient scriptural passages referred to make the basic point of the visual splendors of the great city; as well as all the ways we will find fulfillment there.
With reflection; however it would seem to me that we must be careful not to focus on the creation above the Creator. Lucifer; after all was a large part of the music worship and was clothed in splendor (see Isaiah 14; Ezekiel 28). He would have seen all the ornate opulance of heaven itself along with the heavenly city in whatever state it was in prior to the time He had completed mansions for His people. Whether it existed for all eternity itself or was created at the dawn of time; we need to look at the Triune God Himself as being unique in character as well as superior to His created beings. Even the Word of God has patterns and inherent life in it's words which are suitable to cut to the marrow of soul and spirit ( Heb. 4:12).
We need to stop to reflect on the true nature of heavenly treasure; it is first and foremost meant to honor God; as well as being a place for His saints to dwell in; where there is nothing unclean entering into it and it is perfectly Holy. ( Rev. 21:27). It should be seen in the dirt villages and the prisons where humble servants who are saints of the Most High are serving the Lord by proclaiming the Good News. There; we can look into the eyes of believers and see Christ who through obedient service are gaining eternal blessings in treasures that cannot fade away ( Luke 12:33-34). Here; we see people who are sold out to Christ and have no desire to grasp onto things of this world. It is a process for some of us; but we must all produce good fruit and overcome the temptations of this life and ensnarement of the love of money; which only can occur when sealed with the Holy Spirit and living out what lives in our hearts. ( Eph. 1:13-14; Phil 2:12-13).
Thanks for the good words on our heavenly reward.
I was just thinking yesterday about this as my husband and I were driving on such a sunny fall day. Considering the beauty of the natural environment, I thought that since God created such beauty and enjoyment on this earth in this life, how much greater will be the beauty and enjoyment of our heavenly life! I don't think we will ever grow tired or bored of what we will possess in our heavenly life. Just the eternal infinite perfection of God in all of His ways will be captivating to us for all eternity.
I love what John the Baptist said of Jesus, "He must increase and I must decrease." ( John 3:30). Our sanctification will bring this same attitude in us. Although God can never increase in any aspect of His Being, but our view and esteem for him will increasing grow in glory and our esteem for ourselves will lessen as we understand more fully how God deserves all the honor, glory, and praise, not us. It helps us understand why in John's vision in Revelation that the angels and elders would fall before the throne of God crying "Holy, Holy, Holy" continually. We will have that same esteem for Him. All to Jesus, holding nothing back for ourselves, knowing we have everything in Him anyway and will never lack for any good thing. How wonderful that will be.
You probably don't need these admonitions. That is a hard saying; how God is impartial. He will bless those who bless Him; and curse those who curse Him. It seems you have a great desire for the Word; and having a husband in the faith; hopefully you are growing as well in the role God has given you in this life. It is the fact that those who are hundredfold that have the greatest rewards is simply God's character being reflected; as well as gaining more "interest" as it were because of heavenly rewards. He who sows in tears will reap in joy. ( Psalm 126:5-6). It goes against the flesh to invest time and energy and finances in ministry for the Lord but we are told that we MUST believe that God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him ( Heb. 11:6). These crowns of course extend to those who patiently hope and wait for His coming; those in leadership over the church (held to a higher standard); a special one for martyrs; and several other designations. We may cast our crowns at His feet but as adopted children we have eternal promises and positions. It is hard to say in eternity as compared to the Millennium the differences in rulership; etc. Obviously it is better to be a doorkeeper in the house of God than to be lost and cast out.
It is not taught today how some will make it through the Bema suffering loss getting in as through the fire ( 1 Cor. 3:15). Revelation 3:11 is not taught much either. One of my frequent comments on that is that if I fail I'd better be honored to see someone else exalted due to my lack of service. God will use anyone as a method of spreading salt and light; some sowing others reaping the benefits.
Sad truth today is that there are few who can discern those who are shining as the stars among the masses of confessing Christians ( Daniel 12:3 associated with leading many to righteousness).
Agape; Rich P
Hmmm I was not aware that you had not had any responses to your posts for some time. That surprises me. I always read what you write. I like how you take a book and go right through it chapter upon chapter. I am trying to do that, too. But am very slow at it as I am only in Exodus. But that pace is what I do now. I do enjoy conversing with people on here. It helps me stay focused on what is really important, even in Christian conversations. I am learning quite a bit on here and your posts are part of this learning and growing in me. Thank you. Keep up the good work, Richard. God knows what He will do with your obedience even if you do not yet see the fruit. This idea makes me smile as I think that we do not need to depend on instant or quick results to know whether what we do from the leading of the Holy Spirit is worthwhile or not. God uses us and many times does not have anything bounce back to us for some time. But we should be satisfied that we have done what He has led us to do and leave it at that. I try to be content in whatever situation I find myself in, trusting God to bring about good from it for others and for myself as well.
I am blessed to be married to a man who believes, too. Our whole relationship from the beginning of our first date up to now (45 years later) have been as believers. He is fairly quiet and reserved. As with our 3 sons, he is introverted and I am the lone extrovert in our family though I come from a whole, big family of extroverts, mostly. Too many bossy sister, that is for sure. haha. I have learned a lot living with introverts and that has led me to be more sensitive to their needs as far as interactively and emotionally. I have needed to set aside my preferences and bents for their needs more often than not. That is a good thing. It is part of dying daily to self, I believe. I certainly am not one to insist on my one way nor to need to run the show. So, God is at work in our family. Praise to Him.
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